Brian Burke really, really wants John Tavares on the Leafs

Just because Armageddon between two rivals is going down tonight doesn't meant we can't talk a little NHL Entry Draft, right?

Besides the playoffs and the Jim Balsillie-Phoenix saga, one story of interest around the National Hockey League has been Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs' never-ending quest to draft John Tavares, even though the Buds aren't slated to make a selection until pick No. 7.

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As soon as Bill Daly announced that the New York Islanders had won the Draft Lottery, Leafs general manager Brian Burke was on the phone making his intentions known that he wants to draft the London Knights wunderkind. Islanders GM Garth Snow, keeping his cards close to his chest (likely covered by an oversized chest protector like he wore in his NHL days), has not announced whether or not the franchise will take Tavares, Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, or Brampton Battalion forward Matt Duchene, who's been slowly creeping up the draft board for many teams.

The pieces that would even have Tampa Bay or New York give a moment's thought about trading away their spot in the Draft would be if Schenn and/or Kaberle were involved in the talks. The Leafs also aren't exactly the late-1990's Montreal Expos stock-piled with high-level prospects.

Is this Burke's way of playing with the Toronto media and giving them the impression he's truly attempting to get the hometown boy?

"There are great hockey scouts right there, and they know what they're doing. This is an insult - one, to your scouts. Garth Snow's team is going to look at John Tavares, maybe make him number one, or the tall drink of water from Sweden named Victor Hedman. But if you are listening to your fans, it's an insult because you're pandering people who don't know what they're doing. It was Marv Levy who once said, 'If you start listening to fans, you end up sitting with them.' Listening is a bad idea.'"

Not necessarily a bad thing, Michael, when those same fans are the ones who will decide whether or not they want to fork over the cash to show up at Nassau Coliseum next season to see Jeff Tambellini(notes) or John Tavares.